Closing the cash drawer

A drawer is either right, or it is wrong by an amount somebody can explain. The routine below is designed so that every rupee in or out has a reason attached before the count starts, not invented after it.

During service

• •Open each shift with a counted float, entered by the person taking the drawer.
• •Every cash movement that is not a sale (change bought from the bank, a vegetable run paid from the till, a tip paid out) is recorded as a pay-in or pay-out with a reason, when it happens.
• •Refunds come out of the drawer that is open now, and are recorded against it.

At close

1. 1.Count before you look at the expected figure. A count done while looking at the answer tends to find it.
2. 2.Enter the counted amount and compare: expected = float + cash sales − cash refunds + pay-ins − pay-outs.
3. 3.Write down the reason for any difference, however small. Patterns only show up if every night is recorded.
4. 4.Reconcile card and wallet totals separately against the terminal’s or provider’s own settlement report.